Patient hoists



Feb. 14, 1961 L MCCOY ET AL 2,971,204

PATIENT HOISTS Filed Jan. '7, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. .3.

32 32 33 /5/ @K Y6? w l g f. 36

Roy' E. ALroM afee/UNE A/f'or INVENTORS BY M, WY

A r role/VE YS Feb. 14, 1961 l.. MccoY ETAL 2,971,204

PATIENT HoIsTs Filed Jan. '7, 195s 3 sheets-shew s FIG. 6. 5/'/50' H TTORNE YS rara.

PATIENT HDISTS Filed Jan. 7, 1958, Ser. No. 707,498

Claims. (Cl. 5-83) This invention relates generally to hospital or invalid beds, and more particularly to a new and improved lifting device for raising invalid patients.

It is extremely difcult for one nurse to handle a cornpletely invalid patient or a patient in casts or in traction. Particularly it is diiiicult to handle such patients when changing sheets, changing position, during operation, or the like.

It has long been desired to provide a simple and economical device which may be attached easily to any hospital or invalid bed and which is easily removable therefrom; or to provide a permanent or semi-permanent arrangement on specified beds. There have been a number of lifting devices devised for such purpose, but such devices have not been completely satisfactory because of difculties of providing such lifting qualities as are necessary to lift patients in unwieldy casts or traction or patients who must be handled` extremely gently. Such devices have also` had the disadvantage of impeding normal access to the bed, and havebeen so constructed that it is diicult to lift a patient for the nurses to perform the simple and necessary functions of changing bed linens and the like.

We have provided a device which collapses completely beneath the level of the mattress upper surface when not being used to lift the patient and which can be quickly aixed to any standard hospital bed. We have also provided in one embodiment of our invention a means for rolling a patient into a diierent position upon the bed by lifting one side higher than the other.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide a device of simple and economical` structure, easily operable by one person, which can lift a bedridden person from the surface of a bed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device as described which can be easily attached to, or removed from, a bed.

It is a still further object of our invention to provide a device as described which collapses completely beneath the level of the bed mattress when not in use.

It is still a further object of our invention to` provide a device operable by one attendant which can `be operated while the attendant also attends the patient being lifted during the lifting operation.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of our invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the following description when read in conjunction with the attached drawings, in` which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a preferred embodiment of our invention placed upon a hospital bed frame with mattress and springs removed for clarity in understanding our device.

`Figure 2 is a plan view of the same embodiment upon the hospital bed frame with mattress and springs removed..

Figure 3 is the same as Figure l, except that our invention is shown` in elevated position.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section of a portion of our invention through the plane of Figure 2.

iFigure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section, taken at 5--5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a plan view of an alternate embodiment of our invention mounted upon a hospital bed frame with mattress and springs removed.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of the ernbodiment of our invention illustrated in Figure 6, Showing the device partially elevated.

Figure 8 is a cross-section through tit-8 of Figure 7 with the omitted end of the bed in Figure 7 shown in proper position.

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the joint area '70A on Figure 6; and

Figure 10 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the segment indicated by the arrows 10-10 of Figure 6.

Our device consists of a wide belt of canvas fabric or plastic material 10 stretched horizontally across the bed between two identical scissor action lifting devices 20, one of which is mounted upon each of the side rails S1 of the bed frame indicated generally by the numeral Si).

The bed frame 50 is comprised of a head 55 of customary hospital bed construction, a foot 56 of customary hospital bed construction, and a spring and mattress frame consisting of laterally spaced, lengthwise extending side rails 51 and transversely extending end rails 52 of usual and customary construction. Such bed frame may be of rigid construction as indicated in the attached drawings, or it may have attachments for raising and lowering the head and foot ends of the mattress, which will in no way affect the attachment or operation of our device.

Each of the scissor mechanisms 20 consists of two opposed, upwardly inclined tubular members` 2l and 22 which cross and `are pivotally connected together at a point approximately 1/3 the distance from their upper ends by a pivot bolt- 23. A horizontally extending tubular member 24 is pivotally connected at one4 end4 to, the `upper end of member 22 by a. bolt 25 or the like.` Another tubular member 26 having an outside diameter slightly smaller than the inside diameter of tubular member 24 is. slidably telescoped within tubular member 24, Tulnilar member 26 is pivotally attached at its en d by means of a bolt 2-7 or` the` like to member 21. A tubular member 28` having an` inside diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter offmember 224 isV telescopedA over member 24, as shown. A bushing 29 of ther samewall thickness as tubular member 24 is mounted between tubular niember 28 and tubular member 26 at the end of member 28 so that a bearing surface is proyided betweenV member 26 and 28.

The, belt 10 may be either adhesively fastened to tubular meber 28, or fastened, by clamps or the like, or it, may be` composed of a continuous belt running in a loop between thetwo members 2.84 upon the two, opposed scissor` mechanisms 2t) over the` bed.

It will be` particularly notedthat each of thetlvyo scissor mechanisms 20 used to makeup the overall device is identieal in every respect. Because these mechanisms are identical, it will be noted that the arm 2l is at the head end of the bed on one side and at the foot end of the bed on the other side. Likewise, the arm 22 is at the head end on one side and at the foot end on the other side. Also the rod Z6'is at the foot end on one side and the head end on the other, with the same applying to the member 24.

Each of the members 21 and 22 is pivotally connected at its lower end to a` pendulum arm 31 by means of a bolt 30. Each ofthe pendulum armsl, in turn, is pivotally connected by a bolt 32, or the like, to a channel shaped hanger 33 (see Figure 5) of such size as to tit over the bed rail 51,. Each of the bolts 30 passes through the respective tubular members 2l or 22, through pendulum arm 31, and is screwed into a threaded hole in the endf of a bar 354A extending transversely beneath the bed` frame. A

washer 35 is mounted over the bolt 30 and between pendulum arm 31 and the bar 34.

It will be observed that the two scissor mechanisms 20 lare identical, but that in working together one is at 180 angle of direction to the other, that is arm 21 on one side of the bed will be at the foot end of the bed and arm 21 on the opposite side of the same bed will be at the head end of the bed, so that they may be attached as described in the following paragraph and function as a unit with bars 34 extending toward other bars 34 and joined as indicated below.

Each of the bars 34 is welded or otherwise rigidly attached to a collar 36 having threads on its inner surface. Each of the collars 36 has two oppositely extending bars 34 attached to it, as best shown in Figure 2. Thus, one collar 36 joins togethertwo of the bars 34 at one end of the .opposite lifting mechanisms 20, while a second collar 36a in a like manner joins together the other two bars 34 yat the other end. The collar 36 has right hand threads through its longitudinal axis and the collar 36a at the other end has left hand threads, through its longitudinal axis. An adjusting screw 37 having right hand threads at one end and left hand threads at the other end, .extends between and through the collars 36 and 36a, and has a crank handle 38 rigidly attached at one of its ends. Preferably, the handle 38 will be on the end which is at the foot of the bed.

When the handle 38 turns in one direction it is clear that the bars 34 attached to collar 36 and the bars 34 attached to collar 36a will move towards one another, and when the crank is turned the other way, they will move apart. In so doing, the pendulum arms 31 Will swing from the position shown in Figure l to the position indicated in Figure 3, thus causing the tubular member 26 to telescope within the tubular member 2.4 and raise the canvas belt attached to the tubular member 28. The dotted lines 57 and 58 indicate the top and bottom surfaces, respectively, of the mattress when the latter is in place upon the bed, and indicate the manner in which the canvas belt 10 is raised above the top level of such mattress. In practical application, the entire lifting mechanism may be slid on its hangers 33 toward the head or toward the foot of the bed as may be desired to position the belt 10 beneath the heaviest part of any particular patient. In some instances because of traction devices, casts or the like, the heaviest portion of the patient will be higher orlower upon his body. Thus a correct positioning of the lifting device will facilitate the handling of the patient.

The embodiment of our invention shown in Figures 6, 7, 8, 9 and l0 is identical in most respects to the embodiment just described, and the same reference numerals with a prime suix are therefore applied to parts which are substantially identical. The chief difference between them is ,that the apparatus shown in Figures 6-10 embodies an additional feature which enables one end of the belt 10 to be lifted higher than the other end, so as to facilitate turning the patient over.

The principal change in the mechanism over that described above is in the addition of an auxiliary lifting mechanism, designated generally by the numeral 60, on each side of the bed to work in conjunction with each of the devices The auxiliary lifting mechanism 60 includes a pair of bell cranks 61 which are pivotally connected by bolts 62 to the outside edges of the side rails 51 on opposite sides of the bed. The bell cranks 61 are spaced a short distance toward the foot end of the bed from the center pivot 23 of the scissors members 21', 22 and an upwardly projecting arm of each bell crank is releasably engageable with the under side of its associated member 21' or 22. Thus, as viewed from the foot end of the bed, the right-hand bell crank 61 engages member 21 of the right-hand scissors linkage, while the lefthand bell crank engages member 22"of the left-hand Scissors linkage. When either of the bell cranks is r0- tated in the counter clockwise direction as seen in Figure 7, the associated scissors linkage is extended, or raised, as shown, thereby lifting one side of the belt 10'.

Each of the bell cranks 61 is individually rocked about its pivot by means of a control rod 64, which is pivotally connected at one end by a pin bolt 63 to a downwardly and inwardly projecting arm of the bell crank. The control rod 64 extends generally horizontally from the bell crank toward the foot of the bed, and its other end is threaded at 65. The threaded end 65 of the control rod 64 is screwed into an internally threaded tube 66, which is rotatably supported by a bearing 67 that also functions to prevent endwise movement of the tube. The bearing 67v is mounted on a suitable yoke, which is attached to the foot 56 of the bed. A crank handle 68 on the end of the tube 66 provides a convenient means for turning the tube, so as to screw the control rod into Vor out of the end of the tube for the purpose of rocking the bell crank 60.

To accommodate one-sided raising or lowering of the scissors linkage 20', the bars 34' are pivotally connected at their inner ends to the threaded collar on the adjusting screw 37'. The threaded collar of this embodiment is designated by the reference numeral 71 and is best illustrated in Figure 9, where it will be seen that the collar 71 has oppositely projecting lugs 72 and 73 that are received within slots 74 in the ends of the bars 34. Pivot bolts 75 secure the ends of the bars to the lugs 72, 73. The outer ends of the lugs 72, 73 are rounded,

as shown, to permit the bars 34 to swing about the pivots '7S without interference.

Either of the scissors mechanisms 20 may be raised independently of the other by merely turning the crank '68 on that side. As the crank is turned in one direction, the control rod 64 is screwed out of the tube 66, pushing against the lower arm of the bell crank 61 and thereby raising the upper arm of the bell crank so that it engages and lifts the member 21. Lifting the larm 21 causes the scissors mechanism to elevate that end of the belt 10. In this way, the nurse or attendant is assisted in turning the patient over in bed.

On the other hand, when it is desired to raise the patient from the mattress without turning him, the center crank 38' is turned to actuate both of the scissors mechanisms simultaneously through the bars 34'. When this is done, the two threaded sleeves 71 are drawn together on the screw shaft 37 by virtue of the left-hand thread at one end of the shaft and the right-hand thread at the other end thereof. The bars 34' are prevented from swinging back of the threaded sleeves 71 by a wall portion 76 defining one side of the slot 74, which abuts against the side of its associated lug 72, 73 to limit angular movement of the bar 34. Thus, the bars 34' are free to swing inwardly toward one another, as shown in the lower half of Figure 6, but are prevented from swinging outwardly past the perpendicular to the shaft 37. The bars 34' thus function in the same manner as the rigidly Welded bars 34 of the rst embodiment when the crank 38' is turned to operate the mechanism.

In addition to the crank actuated mechanism just described, we have provided another auxiliary lift-actuating mechanism, best shown in Figures 6 and 10, whereby aV single individual attendant may raise one side or the other'of belt 10' without leaving the side ofthe patient. This is particularly desirable where the patient is in need of constant attention while being turned over or elevated.

The auxiliary lift-actuating mechanism referred to comprises pulleys 80 that are attached by bolts 81 to each of the bars 34' at the head of the bed. Trained around the pulleys 80 are cables, or ropes 82 and 83, which are attached to eye-bolts 84 and 85, respectively, on the bars 34 at the foot end of the bed. Both the pulleys 80 and the eye-bolts 84, 85 are attached to their respective bars 34 near the outer ends thereof.

After passing around the pulleys 80, the cables `82, 83 extend toward the right-hand side of the bed and are passed over pulleys 86 and S9, which are attached to the right-hand side rail 51 by bolts 88. The cables 82, S3 hang down from the pulleys 86, S9, and are attached to the two upper opposed corners of a rectangular stirrup 90 formed of strap iron or the like. The stirrup 90 may have a heavy lead weight 91 fastened to its bottom side, which serves to partially counterbalance the load carried on the belt l0.

When tension is applied to the cables 82, 83 the bars 34 to which their respective pulleys S0 and eye-bolts 84, 85 are attached, are drawn together. This has the effect of extending or raising the scissors mechanisms 20. If both cables 82, 83 have equal tension applied thereto, the two scissors mechanisms 20 on opposite sides of the bed are raised equal amounts. However, if tension is applied to only one of the cables 82, 83 by pressing downwardly on one side or the other of the stirrup 90, the scissors mechanism 20 on one side only of the bed will be raised, thereby tilting the belt to facilitate rolling the patient over.

With this device, an attendant may place his foot in the stirrup 9i) and by pressing downwardly on one side or the other, exert greater pressure upon one pair of bars 34 attached to a particular scissors mechanism 20' than the other pair of bars 34. By doing this, the canvas belt 10 may be tilted by raising one side higher than the other side, and this amount of tilt may be varied by the operator by varying the pressure applied to one or the other side of the stirrup 9G. When this mechanism is used in this manner, the operator or attendant is left wtih both hands free to attend the patient while lifting in this manner. The counterweight 91 helps to reduce the amount of pressure that must be applied on the stirrup 90 by the attendant to accomplish the desired `amount of lifting of the patient.

Throughout the description it will be noted that the pair of identical lifting mechanisms 20 is used in each case combined with the canvas belt 10 in order to form the complete unit. In other respects all of the items applied to both scissor mechanisms are identical except that cables 83 and 82 would obviously be of slightly different lengths.

While the embodiments shown and described in detail herein are fully capable of performing the objects and achieving the advantages desired, the invention is not limited to these specific forms, as it will be clear that numerous changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the inventive concept herein disclosed.

We claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising: a pair of hangers adapted to engage the one side rail of a hospital bed; a pendulum arm pivotally mounted to each of said hangers; an outer member pivotally mounted to the other end of one of said pendulum arms and extending generally upwardly and directionally towards the other pendulum arm; an inner member pivotally mounted to the lower end of the second pendulum arm and extending in a generally upward and directionally toward the other hanger; said outer and inner members being pivotally connected at a point where they cross one another; a horizontal tubular member pivotally connected to the upper end of said outer member; a second tubular member pivotally connected to the upper end of said inner member; said second tubular member being of smaller diameter than said first tubular member and being partially telescoped within said first tubular member; a sleeve surrounding said tubular members and free- `ly slidable thereon; a second pair of hangers adapted to engage the side rail on the other side of said bed; a pendulum arm pivotally mounted to each of said hangers; an outer member pivotally mounted to the other end of said pendulum arms and extending generally upwardly and directionally towards the other pendulum arm; an inner member pivotally mounted to the lower end` of the second pendulum arm and extending in a generally upward and directionally toward the other hanger; said outer and inner members being pivotally connected at a point where they cross one another; a horizontal tubular member pivotally connected to the upper end of said outer member; a second tubular member pivotally connected to the upper end of said inner member; said sccond tubular member being of smaller diameter than the said first tubular member and being partially telescoped within said first tubular member; a sleeve surrounding said tubular members and freely slidable thereon; a fabric belt extending between the two tubular members slidably mounted upon said telescoped horizontal tubular members on opposite sides of said bed; a pair of bars with an internally threaded collar attached to one end of each of said bars and attached at their other ends to the lower forward end of opposite sides of said two sets of pivotally connected outer and inner members; a second pair of bars fastened to a similar tubular collar and to the lower rear opposite ends of said sets of pivotally connected outer and inner members; a screw mechanism adapted to engage the collars on said sets of bars to be pulled together or pushed apart.

2. A device of the character described comprising: a pair of hangers adapted to engage one side rail of a hospital bed; a pendulum arm pivotally mounted to each of said hangers and depending downwardly therefrom; an outer lifting arm pivotally mounted to the lower end of one of said pendulum arms and extending generally upward directionally towards the other pendulum arm; an inner lifting arm pivotally mounted to the lower end of the second pendulum arm and extending in a generally upwardly and directionally toward the other of said pendulum arms; said outer and inner members being pivotally connected at a point where they cross one another approximately two-thirds their length from said pendulum arms to their other ends; a horizontal tubular member pivotally connected to the upper end of said outer member; a second horizontal tubular member pivotally connected to the upper end of said inner member; said second tubular member being of smaller diameter than the first tubular member and being partially telescoped within said first tubular member; a sleeve surrounding said tubular members and freely slidable thereon; a bushing at the end of the smaller of said horizontal telescoped. arms acting as a bushing between said smaller telescoped horizontal arm and said tubular sleeve; a mechanism identical to that recited above fastened to identical hangers on the side rail of said bed on the opposite side of said bed from the side heretofore described; a exible belt extending between said two sleeves slidably mounted upon said telescoped horizontal members on opposite sides on the opposite i upper ends of said lifting mechanism; a pair of bars fixedly attached at diametrically opposed sides of an internally threaded collar, one of said bars being attached at the end opposite said collar to the said inner lifting arm on one of said lifting mechanisms and the other bar being attached at its other end to the said outer lifting arm of the other of said lifting mechanisms; a similar pair of bars attached at the other lower end of said lifting mechanisms but with the internally threaded collar having threads in the reverse direction from the threads on the other collar; a rod having threads at one of its ends to engage the threads of one of said collars and threads at the other end to engage the threads on the other said collar; a handle attached to one end of said rod.

3. A device of the character described comprising: a pair of lifting mechanisms mounted on opposite sides of a hospital bed, each of said lifting mechanisms comprising two hangers adapted to fit near the head and foot ends of side rails of said bed respectively; a pair of lifting arms pivotally connected at a point intermediate their ends; each of said arms fastened to a pendulum arm at 7 one of its ends; each of said pendulum arms fastened to one of said hangers; a tubular sleeve; a pair of tubular sleeve support members telescoped within said tubular sleeve at one of their ends; each of said tubular sleeve support members being pivotally fastened at its other end to the upper end of said lifting members; a flexible belt connecting the two tubular sleeve members on the lifting mechanisms on opposite sides of said bed; a connecting bar fastened to the front lower ends of the lifting mechanisms on opposite sides of said bed; an internally threaded collar fastened to said bar intermediate its ends, the bore of said collar running directionally at right angles to the longitudinal direction of said bar; a like bar and internally threaded collar with the direction of threads being reversed to the direction of threads in the first of said collars attached to the lower opposite ends of lifting mechanisms ou opposed sides of said bed at the other end thereof; a rod threaded at one end to en- A'gage the threads on one of said collars and at the other end to engage the threads on the other of said collars and screwed into said collars; a handle attached to one end of said threaded rod.

4. A device of the character described comprising: a pair of lifting mechanisms mounted on opposite sides of a hospital bed, each of said lifting mechanisms comprising two hangers adapted to fit near the head and foot ends of side rails of said bed respectively; a pair of lifting members pivotally co-nnected at a point intermediate their ends; each of said arms fastened to a pendulum arm a-t one of its ends; each of said pendulum arms fastened to one of said hangers; a tubular sleeve; a pair of tubular sleeve support members telescoped within said tubular sleeve at one of their ends; each of said tubular sleeve support members being pivotally fastened at its other end to the upper end of said lifting members; a iiexible belt connecting the two tubular sleeve members on the lifting mechanisms on opposite sides of said bed; a bar attached to each of said lifting members at its point of connection with its pendulum arm; each of said bars running transversely beneath said bed towards the opposite side; the opposite end of each of said bars having a slot provided therein; said slot extending a short distance inwardly and less than the full diameter of said bar; an internally threaded collar having ytwo diametrically opposed lugs fastened thereto; each of said lugs being adapted to engage one of said slots in one of said bars; a second collar having attached lugs similar to said irst collar but with its internal threads running in the opposite direction to said rst collar; la rod having threads upon one end to engage threads in one of said collars and threads upon its other end adapted to engage the other said collars; said rod lbeing threaded into position upon each of said collars; a handle attached to one end of said threaded rod; a rocker arm pivotally :mounted to each of said bed rails; the upper end of each of said rocker arms bearing upon one of said lifting members; a threaded rod attached to the other end of each of said rocker arms; an internally threaded sleeve attached to one end of said bed frame and engaging the threads on each of said rods attached to said rocker arms; a yoke fastening'said internally threaded sleeve to said end of said bed; and a handle upon the outer end of said internally threaded sleeve.

5. A device of the character described comprising: a pair of lifting mechanisms mounted on opposite sides of a hospital bed, each of said lifting mechanisms comprising two hangers adapted to fit upon the side rails near the head and foot ends of side rails of said bed respectively; a pair of lifting members pivotally connected at a point intermediate their ends; each of said lifting members being pivotally connected to a pendulum arm at its lower end; each of said pendulum arms being pivotally connected to one of said hangers; a tubular sleeve; a pair of tubular sleeve support members telescoped within said tubular sleeve at one of their ends; each of said tubular sleeve support members being pivotally fastened at its other end to the upper end of said lifting members; a flexible belt connecting the two tubular sleeve members on the lifting mechanisms on opposite sides of said bed; a bar attached to each of said lifting members at its point of connection with its pendulum arm; each of said bars running transversely beneath said bed towards the opposite side; the opposite end of each of said bars having a slot provided therein; said slot extending a short dis tance inward and less than the full diameter of said bar; an internally threaded collar having two diametrically opposed lugs fastened thereto; each of said lugs being adapted to engage one of said slots in one of said bars; a second collar having attached lugs similar to said rst collar but with its internal threads running in the opposite direction to the threads of the rst collar; a rod having threads upon one end to engage threads in one of said collars and threads upon its other ends adapted to engage the other said collars; said rod being threaded into postion upon each of said collars; a handle attached to one end of said threaded rod; a pulley attached to eachrof said bars intermediate its ends; a cable fastened xedly to the pulleys on one pair of bars and running loosely through the pulleys upon the other pair of said bars, a pair of pulleys fastened to one of the side rails of said bed, said cables running through said pulleys on said rods passing through said pair of pulleys on the side rails; one of said cables being fastened to one upper edge of a rectangular stirrup; ,the other of said cables being fastened to the opposite upper edge of said rectangular stirrup; a weight attached to the under side of said rectangular stirrup.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 113,342 Postawka Apr. 4, 1871 316,100 White Apr. 21, 1885 618,407 Forbes Ian. 31, 1899 722,166 Taft Mar. 3, 1903 1,201,635 Ryder Oct. 17, 1916 1,639,462 McLaughlin Aug. 16, 1927 2,348,778 Black May 16, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS 13,390 Great Britain of 1850 459,832 France Sept. 17, 1913 

